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Sunday, January 25, 2015

Yesterday was a time of fun and laughter for kids at the Oak Brook Library. Jason Kollum stopped by for an fun-filled magic, and juggling performance. We were packed to the max in the meeting room, and that was a great thing to see.

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Theresa said it would be a good idea to post something about my recent trip to Amsterdam and London. I guess being a fan of Theresa has to outweigh my disdain for travelogues, so here we go. Here is a literary tour of London and Amsterdam. Many thanks to my good friend for allowing me to stay with her in the Netherlands!

First Spot:Rijksmuseum Library

One of the first places I went to in Amsterdam was this library. As the title of it suggests, it is situated within the Rijksmuseum, which is a museum dedicated to the art and history of Amsterdam. The Rijksmuseum Library mainly houses art research books, which museum visitors can look at if they register at the library. If you are curious about this library and are going to be in Amsterdam any time soon, I highly recommend you check out the Rijksmuseum Library Site.

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Another great library in Amsterdam is spot #2, the ultra-modern and sleek Amsterdam Public Library. The pictures below are from their youth service section of the library.

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If you are curious about some popular Dutch children's fiction (translated into English) some popular choices are:

1. Jip and Janneke, Fief Wastendorp

(Pronounced (roughly) "Yip and Yanaka." These children's books are a lot like the American series, Dick and Jane. They are early chapter books for kids. Look for the English translations!)

2. Miffy, by Dick Bruna
This character is quite literally everywhere in Europe. Kids really seem to not get enough of these books. Check out the translated titles on Amazon.

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Our next stop on the literary tour is 221B Baker Street in London, the home of Sherlock Holmes. The address 221B Baker Street is an actual address in London, and it is now the site of a Sherlock Holmes Museum.

Because I went at a time it was crowded, I did not get a guided tour, but you usually can go through the house accompanied by a character--from the original Sherlock Holmes series--in full Victorian costume. The museum is a shrine of sorts for fans, and I recommend going if you are a fan of the original Sherlock Holmes series, or any of its pastiches.And now, Here is an obligatory black and white photo of the inside of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson's flat. It's created to painstakingly wonderful accuracy from the series. Definitely worth seeing.

And if you are a fan of the BBC Sherlock Series, you are in luck. Speedy's(a small sandwich bar and cafe) featured on the series is a quick walk from the Sherlock Holmes Museum. The food is pretty good, the people there are truly great, and it's probably the most food you are going to get for a decent price in that London area. The owners are wonderful, and appreciate fans who stop by.

All in all, I hope you enjoyed the small literary tour of London and Amsterdam. There's a lot more to say about these places, the people I met and my personal experience, but that is something I hope you will be able to experience for yourself one day.